A 3-year pilot experiment has been launched in Wallonia: cities and towns will be able to draw on a subsidy of 4.35 million euros provided by the Region to finance the reduction of working time, for municipal officials (levels D and E) over the age of 60 and whose tasks are considered “arduous”.
It was regional deputy Maxime Hardy (PS) who put his finger on the question. He challenged the Minister of Local Authorities, Christophe Collignon, on the development of career ends. “Studies have highlighted the influence of different factors on career endings, and the few tools available to employers to adjust them while maintaining the level of productivity”says the Minister in his response.
If the notion of hardship must be, according to the government, defined by the city or municipality directly, it can be inspired by the federal criteria discussed in 2018 (heavy physical work, heavy work organization such as night work, safety risks, mental or emotional load, etc.). The advantage is that the “tired” staff might go to 4/5th, retaining a “full-time” salary, and thus allow compensatory hiring of younger people who will be trained in the various trades.
Charleroi and Thuin are among the rare municipalities to have already started, using their own funds, to set up this type of model. The measure has a cost of €600,000 in Charleroiand regional subsidies will therefore be more than welcome. “And we can be happy that this mechanism can now be done in other municipalities as well thanks to subsidies.”emphasizes Maxime Hardy. “If within three years, the analysis of this pilot project can show that there is a real benefit to this type of career development, particularly on absenteeism, it might also flow into the private sector.”